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Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

THE WISCONSIN ALUMNI Research Foundation (WARF) is a nonprofit organization associated with the University of Wisconsin that primarily functions in streamlining technology transfer for the benefit of sponsoring university research. WARF is instrumental in harnessing and commercializing the results of basic scientific research conducted at the University of Wisconsin, and these efforts generate funds that are used to support further research. One of the principal challenges in science is taking innovative ideas and technologies developed in the laboratory and translating them into beneficial, widespread public use. The goal of WARF is to facilitate and provide solutions for this problem, enabling researchers to commercialize their creative ideas, discoveries, and inventions for the benefit of society and the University of Wisconsin. In the context of stem cell research, WARF has proven to be an important asset and pivotal player.

History

WARF was founded in 1925 by Harry Steenbock, who invented, with James Cockwell, a unique process that uses ultraviolet light to add vitamin D to milk and other foods. Harry Steenbock founded WARF with the donations of nine University of Wisconsin, Madison, alumni, each donating $100 to start the foundation. He wished to change the model by which science was conducted and commercialized. In the early 20th century, many scientists making such discoveries or inventions would not patent their novel results or the created technologies. Harry Steenbock felt that patenting the technology and working to commercialize it could potentially lead to greater scientific gains by generating revenue for reinvesting in future research efforts. This basic concept is the fundamental principle underlying the operations of WARF. To this day, WARF continues to benefit greatly from its revenues from Harry Steenbock's early work.

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation was not only a new type of foundation in 1925 but was also the first academic technology transfer office in the United States. Over the years, WARF served as a case model for many other academic institutions in the United States, once the benefit of having such an organization for promoting and sponsoring basic research was gradually recognized.

Stem Cell Infrastructure

As the prominence of the University of Wisconsin continued to rise in the stem cell field, WARF also became increasingly engaged in this area of research. The expertise and the infrastructure that had already been established by WARF were used to create WiCell in 1999. WiCell is a subsidiary of WARF that was initially developed to distribute the University of Wisconsin's five human embryonic stem cell lines that are approved for research funding by the U.S. federal government.

In 2005, the role that both WiCell and WARF play in the stem cell research field was vastly expanded. WiCell was awarded a National Institutes of Health contract to construct and maintain the National Stem Cell Bank. The role of the National Stem Cell Bank is to maintain and propagate well—characterized human embryonic stem cell lines that are approved for U.S. federal government funding available to nonprofit or academic researchers around the world.

Stem Cell Patent Controversy

WARF currently holds a number of key embryonic stem cell patents, stemming from Dr. James Thomson's isolation of human embryonic stem cells at the University of Wisconsin in 1998. WARF was granted three individual patents relating to the techniques used in isolating human embryonic stem cells that are currently the subject of a patent review initiated in 2006. Consumer groups have been some of the primary challengers of the WARF stem cell patents, arguing that they are too broad. Consumer groups who are mounting legal challenges believe that the granted patents are not unique and were “obvious” findings. These groups claim that the techniques developed by Thomson were a natural evolution of techniques that were used in the isolation of embryonic stem cells from other animals. These techniques were not patented and would likely not be granted a patent. Some consumer groups also feel that allowing WARF to hold such important patents will be an impediment to research, given the licensing fees that are charged by WARF. Several large biotechnology companies such as Geron have already bought licenses to the three patents in question and support WARF's legal claim. At the same time, there is a fear among consumer groups that because of the licensing fees attached to patents owned by WARF, only large biotechnology companies will be able to effectively carry out research, stifling innovation in a vital field with enormous biomédical implications. WARF has responded by arguing that these patents are unique and innovative and that by licensing them, WARF will be able to substantially increase the funding that it provides for ongoing basic scientific research, thereby enhancing the quality and quantity of stem cell research.

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